An annual spring tradition in Scranton is growing! Scranton Tomorrow and NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania are pleased to welcome United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) as a Scranton City Pride partner. The project features a week of volunteer clean-ups, plantings, beautification programs, and more designed to enhance and preserve the natural beauty of the City of Scranton. The program will be held June 2 to 11 in every section of the city.
Scranton City Pride dates back to the mid-1990s when Scranton Tomorrow leaders organized a grass roots effort to help beautify the city they loved. In 2021, Scranton Tomorrow invited NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania to join the cause, allowing the project to expand beyond the Downtown Scranton Business District and into every section of the city. Last year, 600 volunteers contributed more than 900 hours to complete 35 beautification projects. Organizers expect even greater participation this year with additional support from UNC.
“The longevity of Scranton City Pride is truly a testament to the people of Scranton who have supported the effort to maintain and beautify the city for the past 30 years,” said Leslie Collins, President and CEO of Scranton Tomorrow. “As we continue to invest in this program, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with like-minded organizations such as NeighborWorks and UNC. The strength of all three organizations working together allows us to take this project to the next level, which benefits everyone in the community.”
Representatives from all three partnering agencies agree that working together is the key to success. “At NeighborWorks, one of our core beliefs is that ‘we are stronger together,’ said Jesse J. Ergott, President & CEO, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Working with tremendous partners, like Scranton Tomorrow and UNC, to bring City Pride to our community perfectly exemplifies this belief and puts it into action. We love to create opportunities like this for our neighbors to roll up their sleeves and work together for the benefit of their neighborhoods throughout the City. CityPride is a call to action for everyone who loves this amazing place we call home to take a proactive role in ensuring that our best days as a community are before us.”
The mission of Scranton City Pride also aligns well with UNC’s commitment to the community. “UNC is delighted to partner with Scranton Tomorrow and NeighborWorks NEPA on Scranton City Pride this year,” said Chrissy Manuel, Director of Community Revitalization, UNC. “This important, long-standing effort not only helps beautify our city, but also creates new partnerships and a more inclusive community through resident collaboration. We’re excited about the great projects in the works and look forward to being part of the positive energy generated by the community working together."
Scranton City Pride is made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including: The University of Scranton, Scranton Area Community Foundation, Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, Pennsylvania American Water, and NET Credit Union. The project is an initiative of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful program.
For more information, visit ScrantonCityPride.org or contact Steve Ward, Project Manager, Safe, Clean, Green & Design Program, Scranton Tomorrow, at steve@scrantontomorrow.org or 570.963.5901.